Rafi caught up with Rian and the others in the kitchen. “Hey babe, you left and didn’t tell me you awake,” Rafi said, looking a bit distressed.

Rian planted a smile on her face, “You looked so peaceful that I didn’t want to ruin it.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek and hugged him. He pulled her tight for a moment.

“I thought something might be wrong.” He said, searching her face.

Viv interrupted them, “We should get a picture to commemorate this occasion.”

Rian raised her eyebrows and smiled. “I love that idea.”

The group headed to the terrace to get a group picture. After everyone split off, but Seb pulled Rian into a corner. “It’s weird to be leaving.” He said with a sigh, “this place has really changed me.” His glance drifted over to Viv, and he smiled. “I never thought I’d actually find love here.”

“Love?” Rian asked with a smirk.

“Don’t say anything I haven’t told her yet,” Seb said, blushing. “What about you and Rafi?”

Rian shrugged. “We’ll just have to see, I think.” She avoided Seb’s gaze. “Question Seb?”

“Go on then.” He answered.

“Hypothetical question. Would you still feel the same if Viv wasn’t the person you thought she was?” Rian asked.

“I don’t know. It’s hard to say.” Seb looked at her curiously. “Why do you ask?”

“As I said, it was just hypothetical,” Rian replied as someone’s phone beeped.

Camilo looked at his phone and called out, “Hey guys, it’s time.”

The couples nervously looked around at each other while they waited. The silence was almost deafening as no one knew what to say. Rafi put an arm protectively around Rian as they waited. Thankfully, the producers didn’t make them wait for too long. Viv jumped as her phone buzzed. “It’s me.” With trembling hands, she pulled it out. “The couple in fourth place are Tai and AJ.”

Tai and AJ stand up to hug the other islanders. “Congratulations! Fourth is still good.”

AJ smiled at Rian. “You know what? Yea! Fourth is good.”

Viv’s phone buzzed again. “And for third place… Camilo and Iona.”

Iona squealed and hugged Camilo. Everyone applauded their achievement. Rian looked over at Viv and Seb, sharing nervous smiles. Viv mouthed, “Love you.”

Rian smiled and mouthed back, “Love you too, babe.” Her phone vibrated in her hand.

As Rian brought it up to read. Viv said, “Good luck, guys!”

The winner of Love Island Season Three… Rian and Rafi. Genevieve, Iona, and AJ pulled Rian into a hug. Rafi reached into the fray, pulling Rian off her feet and into a tight hug. “I can’t believe it. We did it, babe.”

Seb’s phone buzzed. “It’s time to leave.” The couples clasped hands as they walked toward the Villa entrance.

As they got closer to the entrance, noise from outside started filtering through. It sounded like a chant getting closer Rafi looked at Rian curiously. “Is that our names mashed together? Rianfi?”
Rian chuckled, “apparently.”

They step out of the Villa, and to Rian’s surprise, Chelsea from last season came hurrying up to them. Rian smiled. “I know who you are.”

Chelsea shot her a smile as she pulled Rian into a hug, “Yea, they asked me back to MC this event. I’ve been watching you for weeks. This way, please.” She led them to a big screen projected onto the wall of the Villa. “So here we are. I’ll ask you first, Rian, How would you describe your time in the Villa?”
“A once in a lifetime experience,” Rian replied.

“What was the biggest reason you would say it was so good?” Chelsea asked.

“The people, everyone, was really wonderful. I’ve made many friends here.” Rian replied. They probably won’t like her so much later, but she could enjoy it for the time being.
Chelsea turned to Rafi. “How do you feel, sitting with Rian after winning Love Island?”

Rafi smiled. “I had my eye on Rian the whole time. So when I went to the Villa, I knew what my goal was.” He looked over at Rian. “And I always get my goal.”

“It’s been quite a ride for both of you.” Chelsea gushed. “Let’s look at some of your best moments. It didn’t take long for you to make an impression, Rian.” The screen showed the clip when Rian met AJ.

“Then you coupled up with Camilo, and you both seemed pretty happy.” They showed the clip of Rian’s first kiss with Camilo. “But later, Iona came in and stole Camilo.” The crowd booed. “Hey, stoppit! We love Iona. She had to choose someone, but that put Rian in a strange position. How did you feel about that, Rian?”

“I respect her for making a decision. She had a difficult choice… she didn’t shirk it. She got on with it.” Rian said, shooting Iona a smile.

“That seemed to be the trigger for your friendship with Seb,” Chelsea said. They showed the scene of Rian and Seb on the terrace having their first heart to heart. The crowd “Oh em gee we loved you guys. You were like brother and sister.” She looked over at Rafi. “Can I ask you an honest question?” Rafi nodded. “Were you ever threatened by Rian’s relationship with Seb? They were like super close, and this is Love Island.”

Rafi smiled, “You know what?” He reached over to hug Rian. “People love to say ‘it’s not Friend island,’ but it’s not sex island either. There are different kinds of love, and I’m happy that Rian and Seb found each other.”

The crowds applauded. Chelsea smiled, “then we moved on to the recoupling on day three.” Chelsea continued to talk as bringing up the ‘highlights’ of Rian’s time in the Villa. Rian wasn’t stupid. She knew the right things to say. Besides, it wasn’t like her to be catty anyway. She truly hoped it would work out for Harry and Lily. “There is one last moment we want to share with the public.” The screen showed the moment minutes just as they had won. Rian realized she looked super sad at first. Remembering that perhaps it would be better if they didn’t win… too late for that now.

Chelsea’s next words brought Rian’s attention back to the present. “So now it’s time for the big question, my lovelies. If you’d step this way, please.” She led them over to a small platform. Rafi took his place beside Rian, and Chelsea produced two envelopes. “One of these envelopes holds the 50000-pound prize. The other holds nothing. I’m going to give each of you one of these envelopes. The person with the money must then choose whether to split it with their partner or take everything.” She offered the envelopes.

Rian took the one closest to her, and Rafi picked the other. “You want to swap?” Rafi asked.

Rian smiled. “Sure.”

Rafi beamed, “You really don’t care about the money, do you?”

Rian shrugged. Or I could be trying to take it all…

Chelsea smiled. “Go for it, babes.” Rian could feel the crowd holding its breath as she and Rafi opened the envelopes. She had won.

“OK, babe,” Chelsea said, “Time for the big question I mentioned before. Has this experience been about love or money?”

Rian’s expression was calm and composed. “I’m taking the money.” There it was: she was a huge fake, a fraud. The crowd’s silence said it all.

Rafi’s face took on an almost comical shock. Rian stayed completely controlled as she looked over at Chelsea. “I need to go home now.” Her voice broke, and Chelsea nodded. One of the producer’s assistants hurried over and took Rian away. Rafi could only watch her walk away. Only once she was on a small chartered plane with no one else around did she let her facade slip. Hot tears coursed down her face. Hurt at what she had done to herself and the other islanders… especially Rafi. She had deleted all her social media accounts, her email and shut off her phone hours ago. She would get a new one. Rian had done what she needed to do.